A Day at Raceway Park

Heading to Raceway Park for a day at the drag races? Here’s what to expect!There are few—if any—New Jersey day trips that match the excitement of a day at the drag races. Our best advice for hardcore racing fans and those looking for family fun activitieswould be to come early, stay late, and be prepared for an amazing show!

For most events, all tickets are sold at the gate the day of the event. But for the NHRA Supernationals, our largest event of the year, we recommend purchasing tickets in advance by mailing in the purchase form, ordering over the phone with the Raceway Park office, or by logging on to racewaypark.com. When you come to the park, bring a hat, sunglasses, earplugs, and a blanket to sit on or bundle up with on cool nights. General admission seating is available at most events with Reserved Seating for an additional $5 at the P.C. Richard & Son Night Of Thrills presented by Premio, the NHRA Toyota Supernationals, the P.C. Richard & Son Summer Motorsports & Monster Truck Spectacular presented by Premio and The Truck Buyer's Guide U.S. Diesel Truckin' Nationals presented by Elizabeth Truck Center.

Arrive early! The parking lots are full of race fans streaming toward the main gate even as the first round gets under way. And at the end of the day, don't make a headlong rush for the gates the instant the last car runs. Build in some extra time to hit the pits, where the teams are relaxed and likely to be more accommodating.

In the stands…

To get the most out of the drag races, try and be there for the spectacle and variety of qualifying events, generally held on Friday and Saturday. Here you’ll see all the cars run, not just the quickest 16 that decide the competition on Sunday. You'll also get to see some of the local cars that run only once or twice a year and are rarely quick enough to make the show. Try watching the races from different spots in the stands, and listen to the announcers! They often go into great detail to explain driver reflexes, down-track strategy, and how and why a driver won or lost a race.

In the pits…

Drag racingoffers motorsport fans direct access to the teams. It’s truly amazing watching these highly skilled mechanics “twirl the iron” from as close as five or 10 feet away. For a real thrill, hang out until a team test-fires its fuel-burning engine, generally 45 minutes to an hour before it expects to run. And don’t restrict your pit-area adventures to the Pro classes. You'll see the same kind of frantic pit-area thrashes in the Sportsman pits that you witness in the Pro pits!

Remember …just sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the most exciting things to do in New Jersey when you’re at New Jersey’s #1 motorsports park—Raceway Park!